A recent rash of water main breaks in Bristol and Forestville disrupted traffic, and resulted in a school closing.

Melody Meadows, a single mom of two young girls, recently moved to the area near Pine Lake and has become accustomed to the news about broken water pipes during her abbreviated time as a resident, “There were six or seven water main breaks in rapid succession, so the kids and I thought they were just part of everyday life in Bristol. We are a little disappointed that there hasn’t been one in a few weeks though,” she observed.

Yorick Besch believes the presence of water officials in his neighborhood is reassuring because it is a crime deterrent. “It was frustrating not having access to water, but at least no one was trying to rob the local convenience store because the Bristol Water Department was here repairing the break,” he said.

Water officials say extremely cold weather is the likely culprit for the broken pipes and the discolored water too.

The broken pipes created a great deal of news for the Mum City so the Chamber of Commerce is urging the municipality to provide tours of the water main breaks in the spring. “Due to the news generated they should be marketed as significant cultural exhibits. Tourists enjoy unique attractions and a bus tour of these places would be great for the community, ” the chamber said in a statement.

The former location of Bank of America in the center of town (East Main Street) will soon to be a package store, pending approval of the all necessary permits. Word on the street is that party goers, alcoholics, casual drinkers and drunks have been lobbying village leaders for another package store. God knows there are not enough of them in the area. No doubt this will be a boom of tourism. We’re so lucky.

What does it say about us that a single book store cannot stay open or struggles to survive in the Forestville/Bristol area but package stores, which specialize in the sale of alcoholic beverages, flourish.

Okay. Went of the reservation there for a bit. Feel better now.

I am sure the owners intentions are good and it will create 3 to 5 jobs. I’m just sayin is all.

A recent study completed by the Bureau of Vital Statistics concluded that the state of Connecticut with its great moderate climate, four seasons, and numerous hills is one of the top five states in New England.

“Do you know what this means?More visitors to Forestville,” said an enthusiastic Heather Ross, President of the Forestville Tourism Association.“Sure, some states may have better schools, reduced liability costs, and lower taxes.And other states may brag about highway projects that finish on time, lower gasoline taxes and less regulation but we have lots of trees.”According to the report a key to Connecticut’s status is the fact that the leaves on their trees change color in the fall too.

The states were graded on tourism, ecology, roads, environment, and taxes.

The bureau made note that there are only six states in New England, but while naming Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts to the top five list, they did not publish the name of the state that did not make the list.Sorry Rhode Island.Oops, did I just do that?

A spokesperson for Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell said she was thrilled with the report.

I just bumped into Heather Ross, President of the Forestville Tourism Association (FTA) at the post office.Forestville was blanketed with 14 inches of snow last week, and Miss Ross is upset about the dirty snow banks around the village.“This is a blight issue.The snow banks have gone from clean to dirty.Outsiders believe we are a grubby people because are snow banks are so filthy.”

Ross would like to see corrective measures to clean the snow banks, “The Public Works Department does a….good….job but they could be doing more such as painting the snow banks white.Midwestern states mix beet juice with brine to form a biodegradable brew that freezes at a lower temperature.No sand, no dirt.Simple.”

How did I get here?I am headed over to Legends Sports Bar for a pop.Are they open yet?More later.